The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and video game publisher 2K were reportedly close to signing an agreement to develop a new football simulation game, but negotiations ultimately collapsed. The information comes from Insider Gaming, citing a report by Sports Gamers Online (SGO).
According to sources, discussions between the two parties lasted several years and progressed to the stage of negotiating specific contract terms, licensing rights, and game modes. 2K was seeking a 10-year partnership agreement that would have granted the company:
- Rights to the official FIFA World Cup.
- A FIFPRO license, allowing the use of real football clubs and player names in the game.
Among the planned features, the developers proposed a club ownership mode, described as a “light version of Football Manager.” 2K had already begun assembling a team of specialists to work on the project, which was intended to compete directly with EA Sports FC.
The negotiations reportedly broke down due to FIFA’s desire to pursue “faster and more profitable financial opportunities.” The organization decided to monetize the FIFA World Cup through other initiatives, including the launch of the interactive project FIFA World Cup: Launch Edition on Netflix.
It is worth noting that the schedule for Day 2 of IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 3 features NAVI taking on Legacy, while FUT will face G2.